Movement-cure machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

M. P. HENDERSON. MOVEMENT CURE MACHINE.

No. 398,255. Patentedlebb 19, 18891 (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

M. F. HENDERSON. MOVEMENT CURE MACHINE.

No. 398,255.. Patented Feb.- 19, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY FOOTE HENDERSON, OF ST. lzOUIS, MISSOURI.

MOVEMENT-CURE MACHINE.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,255, dated February19, 1889. Application filed November 17, 1888. Serial No. 291,101. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARY FOOTE HENDER- SON, of St. Louis, in the Stateof Missouri,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Movement-CureApparatus,wl1ich improvement is fully set forth in the following specifloat-ion.

This invention has reference to a class of apparatus for practicing theso-callod F Swedish movement-cure, and is designed to substituteautomatic mechanical movements for manual treatment or manipulations inpro- 'ducing such actions as rubbing, kneading,

costly, conqiilicated, and requiring a large space for their properoperation.

The object of this invention is to supply a simple and portableapparatus that can be cheaply made and easily manipulatet'l, and bymeans of which the peculiar quick vibratory motion can be produced andcommunicated by a ball, rubber, brush, agitator, or other specialattachment or appliance to the part of the body requiring friction,irritation, agitation, or like treatment.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable frame,whieh may be ofwood, in which is mounted a rock-shaft having a socket for inserting arubber, stirrup, or other attachment. This shaft may be termed thevibrator, and mechanism is provided for imparting to it the peculiarmotion above alluded to. The main shaft, which has a handle for rotatingit, carries a large friction-wheel, which imparts arapid motion to asmall friction-wheel in contact therewith, and from which thevibrator-shaft is oscillated through a connection-rod and crank-arm, theconnection-rod being adjustable lengthwise of said crank-arm, so as toregulate the extent of motion of the vibrator. The shaft of the smallfriction-Wheel is journaled in brackets adjustable in the frame towardand away from the large friction-wheel.

I11 the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,Figure I is a side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordancewith the invention; Fig. II, an end elevation thereof; Fig. III, adetail in sectional elevation, and Fig. IV a view of one of theattachments.

The frame consists of the base A and the side uprights, B, extendinglengthwise of the base. The main shaft 0 is supported in bearings at themiddle part of uprights B and near the top thereof. This shaft carries alarge friction-gear, D, which gears with the small friction-wheel E onshaft F at the righthand end, Fig. I, of the frame. To insure goodfrictional cont-act, the peripheries of the wheels D and E may begrooved, as shown, and to prevent noise the latter is preferably made ofleather or like material. At the left end of the-frame is the vibratorshaft G, provided with a socket for the reception of the shank h of arubber or other attachment, which is held in the socket by a set-screw,h.

On one end of shaft F is a disk, f, provided with a crank-pin, 6, uponwhich is pivoted one end of connection-rod I. The other end of this rodis pivoted to an arm, K, secured to vibrator-shaft G, so that therotation of crank-shaft F imparts to the vibrator-shaft a rapidoscillating motion.

For some purposes such as shaking or agitating a limb-it is desirable togive to the shaft G a comparatively large movement,while for otherpurposessuch as rubbing the skin on the face or any sensitive part-avery slight oscillation is desired. In order to obtain the necessaryrange of motions, the connection of increase or diminish the amplitudeof motion of the vibrator, the thumb-screwlis loosened and the pin tmoved in slot 75 farther from or nearer to shaft G, and then clamped inplace.

For some treatment far greater power is required than for others, and onthis account it is desirable to regulate the contact of frictiongears DE, for if considerable resistance is put upon the vibrator-shaft thereis likeli hood of the friction-wheels slipping, whereas for lighter workit is of course desirable that the pressure of one of these wheels uponthe other be comparatively light. In view of this the crank-shaft F hasits bearings in swinging brackets M, (one of which is shown in Fig. 1H,)hung by screws m from uprights ll. If it be found that, owing toresistance upon the agitator-shaft, the friction-gears have a tendencyto slip, they can be pressed tighter together by the set-screws N, whichscrew into the ends of uprights B, and are in contact at their innerends with the swinging bearings M.

It will be understood that any number of attachments may be furnishedwith the machine for utilizing the motions of the agitator for differentspecific purposes.

The attachment H (shown in Figs. I and II) is a ball covered with kid orother smooth material for application to the face or scalp. A roughersurface maybe used if groaterirritation be required. The attachment 0(shown in Fig. IV) is a stirrup faced with a sheet of rubber, 0, inwhich the arm or foot can be placed to agitate the limb.

Of course power can be communicated to the main shaft in any way. Asshown, a crank-handle, I, is provided for this purpose.

The use of the large and small frictionwheels D E converts thecomparativcly-slow rotation of shaft 0 into a very rapid rotation of thecrank-shaft, and gives to the vibrator the peculiar rapid vibratorymotion essential for the proper performance of its functions, while thearrangement of the large wheel in the middle, and the crank and vibratorshafts, respectively, on each side thereof, gives compactness, which isessential to a portable machine, and steadiness in operation.

Having now fully described my said invention, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

' from the latter to the former, the shaft of one of saidfriction-wheels having bearings adjustable toward and away from theother friction-wheel, substantially as described.

3. In a movement-cure apparatus, the combination of a portablesupporting-frame, a main shaft having bearings at the middle part of theframe and carrying a large frictionwheel, a crank-shaft carrying a smallfrictionwheel engaging the large wheel, said crankshaft having bearingsin adjustable brackets, ad justin g-screws for said brackets, avibratorshaft, a connection-rod for communicating motion thereto fromsaid crankshaft, and an adjustable connection between the end of saidrod and an arm secured to said vibrator-shaft, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

MARY FOOTE HENDERSON.

Vitnesses:

PHILIP MAURO, C. J. HEDRICK.

